Many of our projects focus on the wetlands of Hays Inlet and Moreton Bay in general. These areas of interest include the important saltmarsh and mangrove zones that underpin the health of Moreton Bay through improving water quality, stabilising the coastline and providing habitat and food for the flora and fauna of the region as well as support our fisheries. Other important areas, which deserve our attention, are the remaining fringes or buffer zones that in many cases separate our natural areas from urban and industrial development.
A buffer zone is a designated area of land usually associated with a reserve or national park. They are established in some cases in order to protect the reserve area from negative human disturbances such as noise, pollutants and weeds. For example, designated Ramsar (protection areas for international wading bird) sites are meant to have a 100 m buffer around them (preventing any development activities which could impact on the wildlife). Unfortunately, most of the Moreton Bay area does not have designated buffer zones underpinned by environmental design. This makes any remaining areas of land between developed sites and the wetlands extremely important.
In Hays Inlet, the landward edge of the saltmarsh areas can often be associated with a natural buffer zone. Immediately adjacent to the high tide line these zones contain a mixture of terrestrial flora adapted to the conditions including Casuarina, Melaleuca and some species of Eucalypt. These areas form valuable refuges for wildlife, including koalas, as well as acting as filters reducing industrial and urban run-off to the saltmarsh and estuary areas. In places these zones can be quiet narrow and are subject to high levels of disturbance from human activities.
To maximise their functionality as a refuge for wildlife as well as a buffer for our wetlands it is important to manage these critical areas for weeds and minimise disturbance. This will reduce the potential damage caused by wildfires as well as filter any excess nutrients and pollutants directly entering the saltmarsh habitats of Hays Inlet and Moreton Bay.
A buffer zone is a designated area of land usually associated with a reserve or national park. They are established in some cases in order to protect the reserve area from negative human disturbances such as noise, pollutants and weeds. For example, designated Ramsar (protection areas for international wading bird) sites are meant to have a 100 m buffer around them (preventing any development activities which could impact on the wildlife). Unfortunately, most of the Moreton Bay area does not have designated buffer zones underpinned by environmental design. This makes any remaining areas of land between developed sites and the wetlands extremely important.
In Hays Inlet, the landward edge of the saltmarsh areas can often be associated with a natural buffer zone. Immediately adjacent to the high tide line these zones contain a mixture of terrestrial flora adapted to the conditions including Casuarina, Melaleuca and some species of Eucalypt. These areas form valuable refuges for wildlife, including koalas, as well as acting as filters reducing industrial and urban run-off to the saltmarsh and estuary areas. In places these zones can be quiet narrow and are subject to high levels of disturbance from human activities.
To maximise their functionality as a refuge for wildlife as well as a buffer for our wetlands it is important to manage these critical areas for weeds and minimise disturbance. This will reduce the potential damage caused by wildfires as well as filter any excess nutrients and pollutants directly entering the saltmarsh habitats of Hays Inlet and Moreton Bay.
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